Page 48 of Must Love Scones and Secrets
“My word!” Wizard Thorne said, quickly taking it back from me. The light dimmed considerably. “That’s…unexpected.”
My heart skipped a beat. “What does it mean?”
Thorne looked uncomfortable. “Well, it means someone has told you an enormous lie. Someone close to you, judging by the intensity.”
The implications hit me like a physical blow. Most of my friends I’d known for years and knew them to be truthful. It could be only one person. I barely knew Bjorn, yet we’d become so close so quickly. And this morning, there had been that strange distance and a hesitation in his eyes. He said there was something he needed to tell me.
He’s married.
That has to be it.
Ugh!
“It’s probably just picking up on café gossip,” I said, trying to sound casual. “You know how people can be.”
Thorne didn’t look convinced, but he nodded. “Perhaps.” He finished packing the satchel and handed it to me. “The important thing now is addressing the Ley lines before the magical disruptions worsen.”
I took the bag, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach. I had a mission to focus on. Whatever was going on with Bjorn would have to wait.
“Thank you, Wizard Thorne,” I said, gathering Merry and the supplies. “I’ll take these to Bjorn and Kellen right away.” I fluttered to the old man, set my hand on his arm, and then gave him a peck on the cheek.
“Sweet girl,” he said, chuckling lightly. “Good luck. And, Rosalyn, remember, sometimes people lie, not to hurt us, but because of their pain. Never assume.”
I paused but didn’t turn around. “Maybe, but that doesn’t make it right.”
“No,” he agreed, “but it might make it forgivable.”
With those words lingering in my mind, I stepped back into the sunlight, my heart feeling heavy.
Tryingto push my worries aside, I went to Elder Thornberry’s estate, where I found Kellen and Bjorn prepping to set off for the cabin.
They looked up as I approached, and something flickered in Bjorn’s eyes—warmth quickly overshadowed by that same guarded expression I’d seen this morning.
“Rosalyn,” Kellen greeted me warmly.
“Guardian,” I replied, giving the keeper of Silver Vale a polite nod of respect. “Hello, Bjorn.”
“Well met,” he replied.
“You spoke with Wizard Thorne?” Kellen asked.
“I did.” I held up the satchel. “He’s given us maps and tools to perform a realignment.”
Bjorn’s eyes briefly met mine. “Thank you, Rosalyn,” he said then turned back to Kellen. “I admit I’m relieved the unicorns are not sick, but this is magic with which I have little experience.”
“What form does your magic take?” Kellen asked him.
“I can do many runic enchantments, but my strength lies in fixing things.”
“Then I would say your magic is perfect for the occasion,” Kellen replied, clapping Bjorn on the back.
I tried to get Bjorn to meet my gaze, but he wouldn’t look at me. Was this the man who had held me so tenderly just hours ago? The one who had whispered my name as our bodies moved together?
Pushing aside my hurt, I opened the satchel and took out the maps of the Ley lines, spreading them on a garden table nearby. “According to Thorne, the disruption is centered near the standing stone. These twisted sections are affecting the unicorn fields, and the fraying is impacting other areas where horned magical creatures, like Merry and the snufflecorns, live.”
Kellen leaned in, studying the map with interest. “This explains why my connection to the forest has felt strained. The Ley lines run through Silver Vale as well, and the residents of my forest have been more mischievous than usual. Something has them irritated. This makes sense.”
Bjorn stood with his arms crossed on his chest. His eyes were focused on the map. “The fairies mentioned a ritual to realign the currents. Did Thorne explain how that works?”
